Trade Promotion Dail Éireann — 2026-05-21 ============================================================ Helen McEntee (FG), Meath East I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 31 and 51 together. I thank the Deputy for this question. The trade forum has become a vital form of engagement between Government, Departments and Ministers but also important key trading stakeholders during a very uncertain and challenging time for international trade. The information and, importantly, the real-time feedback received from the members is extremely valuable. The Tánaiste established this last year during his time in this role. The intention was to make sure that there was that two-way flow of information, particularly in light of what was happening with the US, and that there was an ability for Government to outline the actions it was taking and for individual Ministers in specific sectors to outline the actions they are taking and for sectors and industry to provide feedback to us. The make up of the committee is reflective of some of our most important sectors and some of our most important relationships, including with the US and the UK chambers. We also have representatives from chambers across Europe. This is part of a more comprehensive and deliberative approach taken by the Government to make sure that Ireland's continued economic growth is resilient, so that despite all the uncertainty that we continue to focus on economic growth. This approach also includes the national development plan, which was published in recent months. We are moving to implement budget 2026 and we are now starting to talk about budget 2027 and the mutually supportive action plan and market diversification which was a real focus and priority for us, in particular during our visits for St. Patrick's Day this year, where that market diversification focus came through. Regarding the action plan on competitiveness and productivity, the Deputy will be aware that competitiveness is one of the key overarching themes of our Presidency in the six months ahead. We want to make sure that not just Ireland but the EU as a whole remains competitive and open and are investing in research and innovation. To do that effectively, we need to always be listening to business. That is why this forum is invaluable because we are hearing directly back from those in business and getting their ideas as well as giving them an opportunity to highlight where there are challenges. Agendas and minutes of the Government trade forum are published on digitalhouseireland.ie . Deputies can see that there is an approved work plan for 2026. We have tried to set out that we have an actual plan and that we are focused on various priorities at the different trade meetings. This year, I have convened three meetings of the forum and the minutes are available on digitalhouseireland.ie . My intention is to maintain that intensity of meetings. While a date has not yet been set, there will be another forum in June. This will give us an opportunity to focus on more key areas. At the last forum, I was joined by the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance; the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Deputy Chambers; the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Heydon; the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Lawless, and the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs, Deputy Byrne. Other Government officials and CEOs from State agencies also attended. This was the 12th meeting we have had. In particular, we reflected on the recent St. Patrick's Day programme, which was the largest in the history of the State. It was welcomed by all of those at the meeting. When we look at the overall figures - not just the number of diaspora we managed to reach, which was really quite substantial but also at the number in the business community - about 6,500 people across the world attended different business events we hosted not just stateside but in South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Australia and Africa. There has been a huge focus on how we can identify more ways to open up trade, to support business to grow and to open up new markets as well. We also focused on our engagement on our relationship with Canada. Unfortunately, a trade mission had to be postponed but that is a relationship that has grown from strength to strength. As we celebrate ten years of CETA and hope to ratify CETA this year, we can see that investment increasing significantly into the billions every year. There is a real opportunity to do more. In the coming weeks we will welcome further visitors from Canada, which will provide an opportunity to strengthen that relationship. The EU-US trade relationship is certainly on the agenda of every meeting. I am pleased this week that the EU has agreed the pathway forward for our side of the Turnberry agreement. Before the summer and before we take over the EU Presidency, I hope that we can see significant progress on more areas and the priorities that we want to work closely with the US on. We are working closely with the Commission on issues relating to the agrifood sector, the aviation industry, medtech and other areas to make sure that we can support our industries here. The relationship with the US is strong. Zero tariffs benefit everybody and that is where we would like to get to. Tariffs are not good for business or consumers. We want to work closely with the US to make sure we can reduce tariffs where possible. The ongoing conflict in the Gulf was a key focus point for the trade forum. It is safe to say that every business, large or small, I have met in the last number of weeks is experiencing the impact of the knock-on implications of what is happening in the Gulf, not least because of the cost of fuel. Of course, the price of commodities has continued to increase because of the conflict in Ukraine and now because of this ongoing conflict in the Gulf. It is important that we understand exactly how these conflicts are impacting sectors and how we can respond and provide supports and services. As the Deputy knows, in the last few weeks the Government has provided €750 million directly to individuals in their homes, but also to businesses to make sure that they continue to be viable and a part of a growing economy in what has been a very challenging and difficult time. The one thing that comes through from the forum is the demand and need for certainty in a time of uncertainty. That is what we have been striving to achieve, as well as supporting businesses. --- Source: Houses of the Oireachtas. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The Official Report is revised after first publication; the fetch timestamp below identifies the version quoted. Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-05-21/debate/main Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:58+00:00 Sitting date: 2026-05-21